Vancouver has experienced a mini wave of avante garde doughnut shop openings in the last year (Lucky’s x 2, Cartems, etc.). The newcomers have upped the doughnut flavour ante. Glazed is great and all, but what about honey pistachio, earl grey or square (!) PB&J doughnuts?

Meanwhile old fashioned doughnut shops, such as Lee’s Donuts, continue to step up their game. Lee’s is known for their honey dip, which converts even the staunchest doughnut hater to lover. But the well-loved shop also updates their doughnut flavours seasonally with limited edition options including Winterruption doughnuts, pumpkin spice in fall, Canada Day flavour and more.

Winterruption Salted Caramel doughnut. Photo credit: Scott Fraser

It’s also worth noting that Lee’s doughnut prices are usually lower than the hipper, new school hotspots. The limited edition Zesty Lemon Cake flavour is just $1.70. The limited edition Salted Caramel doughnut is $3.25 because it’s just that much bigger.

Lee’s Donuts is owned by Vancouverites Betty Ann and Alan Lee. Lee’s Donuts was one of the first tenants in the Public Market when it opened in 1979. They have two bakers who have been with them since the early eighties. You’ll catch a whiff of the irresistible aroma of sugar, yeast and fat mingling as soon as you enter the Public Market.

Inside Vancouver is a multi-author blog, written by Vancouverites about Vancouver. Our goal is to give an insider’s view of Vancouver, to provide information, stories and opinions from the locals’ perspective about this great city.